Security lining

ABSTRACT

A method of preventing wireless identity theft including the step of: inserting a metallic lining into a storage bag, where the lining covers the entire interior of the storage bag. The storage bag may include at least one of a purse, handbag, backpack or briefcase. In another embodiment of the present invention, the method of preventing wireless identity theft may include inserting a metallic lining into a wallet. The present invention further includes a system for wireless identity theft prevention comprising: a mechanism to store RF enabled cards; and a metallic lining within an interior of the mechanism to store RF enable cards. The mechanism to store RF enabled cards may include at least one of a purse, backpack, briefcase or wallet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a security lining used on handbags to prevent scanning of personal information.

2. Description of Related Art

As it is well known many individuals use credit cards for purchasing goods and services. Many times credit cards are kept in a wallet or a purse for use by the individual. Typically credit cards include magnetic strips that are read by readers as the card is swiped through a card reader. Further credit cards may also include a Radio frequency identification chip, which responds to certain radio frequencies. If the identification chip comes in contact with radio waves, then a respond with a slightly altered signal may be sent from the chip. The response may include encoded personal identifying information, including the card holder's name, address, Social Security Number, phone number, and pertinent account or employee information.

Due to these embedded RF chips, wireless identity theft may be achieve by inscrupulous criminals. A wireless identity thief may gather an individual's personal information from any RF-enabled cards carried on a person such as an access control, credit, debit, or government issued identification card. Upon capturing (or ‘harvesting’) this data, thieves may easily program their own cards to respond in an identical fashion, i.e. cloning. Information regarding this type of identity thief, Many sites are dedicated to nothing but teaching people how to perform this act, as well as supplying the necessary equipment and software.

The use of RF-enabled cards is expect to increase due to the financial industrial migrating from the use of magnetic stripes on debit and credit cards which technically require a swipe through a magnetic card swipe reader. These transactions take approximately 48 seconds, whereas the newer radio frequency tagged card transactions require approximately 12 seconds The number of transactions per minute can be increased, and more transactions can be processed in a shorter time, therefore making for arguably shorter lines at the cashier. Consequently, it would be advantageous to have a method to block or protect RF enabled credit cards from being scanned and read by RFID scanners.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method of preventing wireless identity theft comprising the step of: inserting a metallic lining into a storage bag, where the lining covers the entire interior of the storage bag. The storage bag may include at least one of a purse, handbag, backpack or briefcase. In another embodiment of the present invention, the method of preventing wireless identity theft may include inserting a metallic lining into a wallet. The present invention further includes a system for wireless identity theft prevention comprising: a means to store RF enabled cards; and a metallic lining within an interior of the means to store RF enable cards. The means to store RF enabled cards may include at least one of a purse, backpack, briefcase or wallet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary use of a security lining in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a security lining that is placed on the inside of a handbag, purse or a wallet as a means to protect sensitive informations on the credit cards that may be stored within the handbag. The security lining according to present invention is a flexible woven fabric that is infused with metal and therefore prevents the transfer of RF signals that may be read to retrieve personal data from RF embedded chips within the credit cards.

FIG. 1 depicts use of a security lining 40 in accordance with the present invention. The security lining according to present invention is placed on an inner portion of a purse 50 as shown in FIG. 1. The security lining 40 lines the interior of the purse 50 and therefore is not visible on the outside to diminish from the overall appearance of the purse 50. The small purse 50 depicted in FIG. 1 includes handles 52 and side panels 51, 53. Further, the particular purse 50 in FIG. 1 includes a base 54 as shown. The security lining 40 is placed throughout the interior of the purse 50 along both sides 51, 53 and the base 54. The security lining 40 prevents the transfer of RF signals that may be emitted by a RFID scanner without the user's knowledge. This liner 40 as stated is a metal infused in the preferred embodiment and it may be used in conjunction with purses, wallets, backpacks and various handbags.

Implementation of the security lining 40 provides the user protection against the wireless identity thief. Many more cards have been embedded with RF chips and therefore the threat of wireless identity thief has increased. The security lining 40 provides a defensive solution to guard against wireless identity theft.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The exemplary embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of preventing wireless identity theft comprising the step of: inserting a metallic lining into a storage bag.
 2. The method according to claim 1 where the lining covers the entire interior of the storage bag.
 3. The method according to claim 1 where the storage bag includes at least one of a purse, handbag, backpack or briefcase.
 4. A method of preventing wireless identity theft inserting a metallic lining into a wallet.
 5. A system for wireless identity theft prevention comprising: a. a means to store RF enabled cards; and b. a metallic lining within an interior of the means to store RF enable cards.
 6. The system according to claim 5, where the means to store RF enabled cards includes at least one of a purse, backpack, briefcase or wallet. 